In Iran, Mixed Feelings on Obama vs. McCain

Roshanak Taghavi reports from Tehran. For months, the word on the street across the Middle East has been that a victory for the Democrats Tuesday in the U.S. would represent a big change for American foreign policy towards the region, especially toward U.S.-irritant Iran. But everyday Iranians expressed ambiguity about what a Barack Obama or John McCain administration next January might really mean for their country, targeted by stiff U.S. and United Nations sanctions. Mohsen, a prominent 67-year old merchant in Tehran’s bazaar who would only give his first name, said he thought an Obama victory would reduce the likelihood of war between Iran and the U.S. and could bring stability to the Middle East. “The Democrats are a people who do not like war. If Obama wins, he will open the way to negotiations with Iran,” he said. But some members of the country’s economic elite–upset about the negative impact of the Bush Administration’s sanctions on the Iranian business sector—said they ... (link)